Future-Proofing the Mall: Development and design considerations for giving life to an old gathering spot.

Ecommerce will reach a historic first in 2021. In China—for the first time anywhere—online shopping will account for more than half of retail sales. The idea of people shopping more online than in stores was once unthinkable. But thanks to growing consumer enthusiasm for ecommerce and a pandemic that accelerated adoption of digital technology across all aspects of life, the unimaginable is now reality. And while the U.S. isn’t quite as far along—it’s expected that 15 percent of our retail sales will transact online this year—this is a preview of what’s to come, and more importantly, how we must plan.